EA is pausing development on a Sims project codenamed Project Lotus and will put its effort into another one called Project Evergreen. That is according to an internal email from EA executives Cam Weber and David Tinson, sent on October 21, 2026 and reported by Kotaku. The email came on the same day EA announced around 400 layoffs and the closure of BioWare.
What EA actually said
The email is short on details. Kotaku quotes three lines about EA’s Lifestyle division, which includes The Sims:
- EA is “focusing on the long-term potential of The Sims and skate”.
- It will “prioritize our efforts on ‘Project Evergreen’ for The Sims”.
- It is “pausing development on ‘Project Lotus'”.
That is all EA has confirmed. The company did not say what either project is, which platforms they are for, or whether Lotus could come back later. Some outlets have called Lotus “cancelled”, but the word in the email is “pausing”.
Is Project Lotus the same as Project Rene?
Probably, but it is not confirmed. Project Rene was revealed in 2022 as the next step for The Sims. Since then EA has reshaped it several times, and reports have described it as a smaller, multiplayer and mobile-focused project rather than a classic “Sims 5”. “Lotus” has been widely reported as an internal name for that same project, including in earlier leaks. EA has never confirmed the link, so treat it as a rumor for now.
What is Project Evergreen?
Even less is known. Sims Community and several insiders link Evergreen to “Project X”, the rumored project that builds on The Sims 4 with deeper gameplay and updated visuals. Again, EA has not confirmed what Evergreen is. The name itself fits EA’s long-running plan to keep The Sims 4 going as a platform instead of replacing it.
What this means for Sims 4 players
- The Sims 4 is not going anywhere. The next base game update is still set for October 27, with more than 150 fixes. See our October 27 update breakdown.
- Your packs and mods still matter. If Evergreen really builds on The Sims 4, the game you play today, and the mods that keep it fresh, stay the center of the series for years. That makes it worth keeping your mod setup clean. Our mod status tracker shows which popular mods work with the current patch.
- Do not expect a Sims 5 announcement soon. With Lotus paused and Evergreen still unannounced, there is no sign of a new numbered Sims game in the near future. We looked at the bigger picture in Will there be a Sims 5?
Was Maxis hit by the layoffs?
EA has not said how many people at Maxis lost their jobs. Sims Community reports that the studio appears to be affected, but there are no confirmed numbers. We will update this article if EA or Maxis comments.
FAQ
Is Project Rene cancelled?
EA has paused “Project Lotus”, which is widely believed to be Project Rene. EA has not used the word cancelled and has not confirmed that Lotus and Rene are the same project.
Is Project Evergreen the Sims 5?
Nobody outside EA knows yet. Insiders link it to Project X, an evolution of The Sims 4 rather than a brand new game, but EA has not shared any details.
Will The Sims 4 keep getting updates?
Yes. EA has an update planned for October 27 and has already outlined a December update and a larger patch early next year.
Sources: internal EA email quoted by Kotaku (October 21, 2026). Background reporting by Sims Community. Last updated October 25, 2026.
